IN THE HOUSE OF KLA RECRUITS

AIM Tirena, April 19,1999

KUKES, NORTHERN ALBANIA. After the turn of Kalimash, about 20
kilometers before entering Kukes it seems you have just arrived
to Kosovo or in its territories controlled by Kosovo Liberation
Army. A group of young militaries (among them there is a girl)
with mimetic uniforms, bulletproof jackets, and Bordeaux caps
stop every car but especially those going to Kukes. On their
arms and caps it is recognizable from far their known KLA symbol. They
are tough in their movements, do not permit to anyone to photograph
them, speak little with their grave aspect increased by the Kalashnikovs
they keep in combat position.

"We are not authorized to respond to journalists. The General Staff
has charged us to enforce the order of general mobilization from 18
to 50 years old men. Nobody must abandon", said one of the KLA
guards in the check point of Kalimash.

They are all members of Military Police of KLA, which under the
order No. 87 of General Staff, should operate within and outside
Kosovo to oblige Kosovar youth to enroll. Tractors and other
transportation means traveling along northern roads loaded with
refugees transport only women and children. Only one man in charge
of the family is excluded. The rest should wear the KLA uniform.

Militaries of KLA, who can be seen all over the city of Kukes, say
that the use of force has not been necessary to recruit young
Kosovars. "All of them want to fight for their burning land. The
moral is very high and it is not true that we are not resisting in
Kosovo", says "Baca" a grayed hair man with old fighter
appearances.

In Kukes now a completely Kosovo city, beside those who prepare to
return back there are found those who have left the West for to
align in the military barracks. Those who leave from the West
arrive in Albania, principally in the Port of Durres, with ferries.
After staying two days there, they register and than get the bus to
recruitment centers in Kukes and Tropoja. "Until now, the number of
people coming from the West, mostly from Germany and Switzerland,
has reached 8 thousand. Naturally, there are many requests but we
can not equip all of them with weapons, materials and military
training before leaving to the front", says a political
representative of KLA in Tirana, who adds that in Kosovo the
clandestine troops total some 30 thousand unities.

The images from the most important TV of the world, families in
danger and burned houses have raised the combat spirit of Albanians
of Kosovo living abroad. Only from the USA have arrived at the
airport of Tirana about 400 young with mimetic uniform of KLA.
"We'll die for freedom" - is the motto that has gathered some 2
thousand Albanians in the USA and wait to debark on the front
against the Serb Army. But not only Albanians are embraced by war
fever. Franck Brucker, a Frenchmen who is fighting since two months
as volunteer with KLA, is lying heavily wounded in the Tirana
hospital and risks to loose a leg after a battle with Serb forces
close to the border where 4 other KLA fighters were killed. In the
same hospital there is a German with KLA uniform risking the life.

After the successful attacks of KLA to some Serb cross border
police offices, Serbs have hit back and even have penetrated into
the Albanian territory where have occupied two villages and
inflicted important loss to KLA. In Tirana the leaders of KLA are
optimistic for the victory. On the roads of the capital lately
there are many people with uniforms but without symbols. According
to the great number of recruits euphoria reigns in Tirana. Anyway
it should not be forgotten that the workers leaving the West need
time to learn to handle weapons.

In an abandoned store, at the exit of Kukes, known before as the
wheat deposit, there is a great movement of people with uniforms.
The majority of the Kosovars recruits, coming voluntarily or
forcibly mobilized, are here in this improvised barrack trained
where girls also aligning to combat. Names are taken uniforms and
weapons are distributed. After 15 days of training, with small
group they cross the border through difficult paths mined and
defended by the Serb Army. Until now they have succeeded in this.
5 thousand have joined the front. "We have a well organized army
and if we get armed very well, we can confront with Serb forces.
Neither Americans nor Germans nor British can push Serbs from
Kosovo. This has to be done by us", says a commander of KLA.

While the refugees' caravans, flooding out Kosovo leaving behind
the indescribable terror, is not stopping yet, it is impossible not
to ask: Has there been any resistance against Serb forces? Why KLA
is not protecting those who are obliged to flee? Is there anybody
fighting out there in Kosovo? "Do not provoke with this kind of
questions", says "Baca" with a strong tone. "There is a war in
Kosovo and KLA is still holding free areas. Do not forget that
Serbs have 40 thousand soldiers, 20 thousand police, paramilitary
bands, tanks and heavy weapons." Not only the military in Kukes
but also in Tirana they thing the war in alliance with NATO, will
continue for another three months maximum. The responsible of
recruitment say that thousands has answered to the claim of KLA
(transmitted daily by the Albanian TV as a spot). But the leaders
of KLA do not permit to journalists to verify these figures
pretending that the entrance into the barracks and the information
about, is not only a military secret but would involve the Albanian
State too. It is not clear what kind of involvement they say when
in Albania are going to deployed helicopters Apache and at the
check point passport should be shown to military who bear on their
caps the sign of Kosovo Liberation Army.